Biography

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Olver was born in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, where he grew up on a farm. He earned his BA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, an M.A. from Tufts University, and his Ph.D. in chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[3]

Career

Prior to becoming an elected official, Olver was a professor of chemistry at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.[4]

Issues

Earmarks

A Washington Post investigation in February 2012 revealed that 33 members of Congress helped direct more than $300 million in earmarks to public projects in close proximity to commercial and residential real estate owned by the lawmakers or their family members.[6] According to the report, Olver secured $5.1 million in earmarks for a road project and intersection near Hampshire College. The project begins 209 feet from the congressman's 15-acre home and several adjoining parcels he owns with his wife.[7]

Specific votes

Fiscal Cliff

Olver voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. He was 1 of 172 Democrats that voted in favor of the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257/167 vote on January 1, 2013.[8]

Analysis

Congressional staff salaries

The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Olver paid his congressional staff a total of $1,083,458 in 2011. He ranked 63rd on the list of the highest paid Democratic representative staff salaries and ranked 82nd overall of the highest paid representative staff salaries in 2011. Overall, Massachusetts ranked 2nd in average salary for representative staff. The average U.S. House of Representatives congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.[13]

Net worth

2011

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Olver's net worth as of 2011 was estimated between $2,035,029 and $4,700,000 . This averages to $3,367,514 , which is a 2.008 % increase since 2010. This is lower than the 5,107,874.16 average net worth for Republican representatives in 2011. [14]

2010

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Olver's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $604,018 and $1,635,000. That averages to $1,119,509, which is lower than the average net worth of Democratic representatives in 2010 of $4,465,875.[15]

Political positions

Each year, National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted, as compared to other members, in the previous year. More information about the analysis process can be found on the vote ratings page.

2012

According to the data released in 2013, Olver was ranked the one of the most liberal representative during 2012. There are thirteen other representatives who share this ranking, making this the highest ranking held by a representative of Massachusetts in 2012.[16]

2011

According to the data released in 2012, John Olver was ranked the most liberal representative during 2011, both in Massachusetts and America. This is a position that he shares with 18 others.[17]

Voting with party

November 2011

Olver voted with the Democratic Party 93.9% of the time, which ranked 47th among the 192 House Democratic members as of November 2011.[18]

Recent news

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Personal

Olver is married to Rose. They have one child. He has lived in Amherst, Massachusetts, since 1963.[19]